High School Boys Basketball: Wilton's Shifrin reaches 1,000 points

Published 5:45 pm, Wednesday, February 18, 2015

FAIRFIELD -- Senior Matt Shifrin became the first Wilton High boys basketball player to reach 1,000 points in a career during the Warriors' 63-54 victory over Fairfield Warde on Wednesday at Warde.

Shifrin poured in 30 points in the victory and sank his first of two free throws with five seconds left in the contest to reach the plateau.

"It's a load off my chest going into the playoffs so now I don't have to worry about (getting to 1,000 points)," said Shifrin, who passed Kevin Hand (924 points), early this season, and is the all-time leading scorer in the program's history.

Upon reaching the mark, he received a standing ovation and the game was stopped for photographs of Shifrin with his teammates.

"I had no idea," he said of sinking the clinching free throw. "I could hear my mom and dad (cheering). There was more cheering than for the usual free throw."

Wilton head coach Joel Geriak said although Shifrin is happy with the accomplishment, it doesn't change the fact that all he wants to do is win.

"It means a lot," the coach said. "I told him he's had a helluva career and it's not over yet."

The 30 points tied a career high set against Staples in the championship of the Wilton Holiday Classic earlier this season.

Shifrin's halfcourt 3-pointer gave the Warriors a 31-30 lead at halftime and they started to pull away with a 46-38 advantage going into the fourth quarter.